Collapsible crate.



PATENTED NOV. 8, 1904.

E. A. KEGK.

GOLLAPSIBLE CRATE.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 23. 1904.

N0 MODEL.

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Patented November 8, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE,

EDGAR A. KECK, OF COTULLA, TEXAS.

COLLAPSIBLE CRATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 774,183, datedNovember 8, 1904.

Application filed May 23, 1904. Serial No. 209,343. (No model.)

T0 all whom, it may concern/.-

Be it known that LEDGAR A. Knox, a citi- Zen of the United States,residing at Cotulla, in the county of Lasalle and State of Texas, haveinvented a new and useful Collapsible Crate,of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to the class of closures known as collapsiblecrates used for shipping produce of various kinds and which may befolded or collapsed when empty for return shipment, and has for itsobject to improve and cheapen the construction and produce a device ofthis character of increased strengthand durability and of increasedconvenience and adaptability to the purposes required.

WVith these and other objects in view,which will appear as the nature ofthe invention is better understood, the same consists in certain novelfeatures of construction, as hereinafter fully described and claimed.

1n the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, andin which corresponding parts are denoted by like designating characters,is illustrated the preferred form of the embodiment of the inventioncapable of carrying the same into practical operation, it beingunderstood that the invention is not necessarily limited thereto, asvarious changes in the shape, proportions, and general assemblage of theparts may be resorted to without departing from the principle of theinvention or sacrificing any of its advantages, and the right istherefore reserved of making all the changes and modifications whichfairly fall within the scope of the invention and the claims madetherefor.

In the drawings thus employed, Figure 1 is a perspective view of theimproved crate in open position. Fig. 2 is an end view of the samecollapsed. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view of portions of the slatsand one of the bands, illustrating more fully the manner of connectingthem.

The improved device comprises a body portion of spaced slats 10,preferably of wood, and having at the ends endless bands 11 12 offlexible metal and connected to the slats by staples 13 14, the staplesclosely enclasping the bands and driven by their points into the slatsclose to the edges of the bands. The

bands will be of relatively wide material, so that when attached by thetwo-pointed staples the connection will be very rigid and all tendencyto wabbling obviated, as will be obvious. To increase the stiffness, acertain number of the slats, as at 15, are formed wider than theremainder of the bands and connected by two or more of the staples ineach. By this means it will be obvious that the stiffness or rigidity ismaterially increased without increase of expense or weight.

The ends of the crate areof spaced slats 16, connected by transversecleats 17, extended at the ends to project between the slats 10 and bearupon the outer edges of the bands 11 12 and supported thereby. Suitablecatches will be provided to connect the end members to the body portion,and an approved form of such fastening means is illustrated, consistingin strips of flexible wire 18, fastened to the end members, as bystaples 19, and projecting at the ends for bending or looping around thebands 11 12.

The body portion may be manufactured of any desired size or any requiredshape imparted to it, as the slats and bands may be of any size, and byreason of the flexibility of the bands any desired form may be impartedthereto, as will be obvious; but preferably the body portion will beoblong in transverse section and with rounded corners, as shown, as thisform of crate piles more economically when shipped in large quantitiesand is self-ventilated by reason of the rounded corners.

It is thus manifest that a very strong and rigid and durable crate isproducechwhich is at the same time light and open to provide for thenecessary ventilation of the contents.

or the inspection of the same from all sides.

When the crate is to be emptied, the unbcnding of the wire clamps at oneend will release the closure member, and when the contents are removedthe opposite end member will be similarly released and the body portioncollapsed for the return shipment, together with the head closures.

A very important advantage of the present device resides in the factthat the ends may be fitted between the sides of the crate in itscollapsed condition, as indicated in Fig. 2 of the drawings, and in thiscollapsed condition of the crate the projected ends of the Wires 18 areWrapped around the respective opposite bands of the slatted body, so asto retain the crate in its collapsed condition and prevent edgewisedisplacement of the heads or ends from the crate.

Having thus described the invention, What I claim is A collapsible cratecomprising acontinuous slatted body having flexible bands connecting theslats adjacent the opposite ends thereof, ends fitted Within the bodyand provided With transverse cleats projected at opposite edges of theends With the projected ends of the cleats entered between pairs ofslats of the body and engaging across the respective bands,

EDGAR A. KEGK.

Witnesses:

L. A. KERR, B. WILDENTI-IAL.

